Letter 3015: As far as it concerns this poor little body of mine, I am getting by with some small reserves of strength — though...

Bishop Avitus to Bishop Maximus. As far as it concerns this poor little body of mine, I am getting by with some small reserves of strength — though anxious, because I have heard nothing about your son's situation or the outcome of his hearing, since I was not in a position to learn. I have been occupied at the monasteries of Grigny and have been absent from the city for some time now. In fact, the delicacies you sent with your customary graciousness found me still on the road, further from the city than expected. I am all the more amazed and grateful that your servant Leonias managed to track me down.

Avitus episcopus Maximo episcopo. Quantum ad infernum spectat et finem, aliquantulis corpusculi viribus vigeo, anxius tamen, quod de domno filio vestro vel absolutione colloquii nil agnosco, quia nec eo loco fuerim, ut cognoscere potuissem. Nam monasteriis Grinescensibus occu- patus aliquamdiu iam habitaculo civitatis absento. Siquidem deliciae, quas dignatione solita direxistis, in itinere me et adhuc ab urbe remotius positum repererunt. Quas- que, quod multipliciter miror, servus vester Leonianus multum gemens, minimum sumens, avido quidem, sed vacuo ventre transmisit: putasses eulogias vestras tenaci corvorum rostro ad Heliae pastum parvulis unguibus exhiberi; adeo ob insultationem meam in vos iustius excitandam misit esuriens, quod vorare non potuit concupiscens. Vellem nunc scire, quid prosit, gulae peculiaris famuli si studetis, cui ne datas a deo vobisque epulas de ore vel animus raperet, optabilis absentandi causa me rapit. Ceterum de recentibus quia praecipitis, et meas partes cedo et multiplico suas. Vtatur paterarum capacitate pro cupis; atterat labris fialas, quas circumdet pittaciorum densitate pro circulis. Nam curabo ego quoque, quod eum velle cognosco, quo, cum simile aliquid de vestra benedictione eruero, ad multiplicandas recentes gulae calenti si non excogitatur modus in calicibus, ponatur in piscibus.